Equipment support system

ABSTRACT

Equipment for use with hand-held motion picture and video cameras comprises a pair of interconnected spring loaded arms, one end of which is pivotally supported by a carrying brace worn by a cameraman and the other end of which is connected to a handle positioned to mount the camera equipment at approximately the center of the moment of inertia. The camera and its associated equipment are mounted in exploded, balanced relation about the handle. The weight of the camera equipment is substantially counterbalanced by the action of the spring loaded arms without employing counterweights. A camera viewed is provided with an extended, flexible cord to facilitate viewing from a position remote from the camera itself and not necessarily governed by the camera orientation.

This is a division, of application Ser. No. 506,326 filed Sept. 16,1974, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,017,168.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to the field of photographic equipment,and more particularly, pertains to portable equipment suitable for usein hand-held motion picture photography.

In taking photographs with a strip film fed motion picture camera orwhen employing a video tape type of camera, it is extremely importantthat the camera be maintained in as stable a position as possible inorder to obtain high quality results. Such stability commonly has beenachieved by mounting the camera on a tripod or otherwise supporting thecamera, either video tape or motion picture type, on a stationarysupport so as to eliminate any possibility of the undesirable cameramotion. Problems generally arise when it is desired to take motionpictures under conditions wherein it is necessary or desirable that thecamera itself be mobile or be moved during the photographic process. Insuch procedures, it has been the usual prior art practice generally tomount the camera on a wheeled dolly, sometimes running on temporarytracks or on a constructed platform extending along the intended path ofmovement, thereby permitting the camera equipment to be moved along asmooth path. When it has been necessary or desirable to employ ahand-held camera, high quality results have generally been unobtainablewhen the cameraman walks or runs with the camera because of theattendant increase in instability, particularly the quick angulardeviations along the axes of pan, tilt and roll, which cannot beadequately controlled. Such instability has heretofore beencharacteristic of hand-held motion picture photography.

In order to overcome the problems encountered in hand-heldcimematography and to reduce the great expense normally encountered inconstructing temporary tracks or temporary platforms, prior workers inthe art have attempted to develop portable camera stabilizing devices.One such device has been disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,945,428. It wasfound that the camera had little or no mobility relative to thecameraman and that such devices required that the cameraman have his eyedirectly adjacent to the camera to properly direct the camera lenstoward the object. These factors tend to limit the versatility of cameraangles of types of slots which can be made with such devices. Otherprior workers in the art have attempted to solve the problem byemploying gyro stabilizers and lens constructions which adjust the lightpaths entering the camera in order to produce a stabilized image. Thesedevices also require that the camera be mounted in a relatively fixedposition with respect to the cameraman. The prior art devices tend torestrict the speed of panning and tilting that can be achieved and arefurther deficient in that they introduce other arbitrary motions oftheir own if their inherent limits are exceeded by walking or running.Further, the prior art devices insofar as is known without exception,are of little benefit in the stabilization of "roll" or motion about theaxis passing thrugh the camera's lens. All of the prior art stabilizingdevices of which I am familiar require the addition of considerableweight beyond that of the camera itself thereby introducing a factordirectly relating to the strength of the cameraman himself. Theforegoing factors tend to limit the versatility of prior art devices bylimiting the camera angles and the types of shots which can be achievedby utilizing such equipment.

None of the prior art devices has been completely successful becuase ofthe lack of one or more of the requirements met by the presentinvention, namely:

1. remote viewfinding, that is, isolating the camera from the moitionsof the cameraman's head;

2. inherent stability, that is, the tendency to resist the rapid angularmotions around all three possible axes that plague hand-held shooting,and slow them down to the point that the human body can effectively dealwith without introducing new ones;

3. perfect floatation and isolation, that is, relieving the cameraman ofthe necessity to exert force to support the camera, thus preserving thedelicacy of touch required for fine control of the camera's motions; and

4. minimum increased weight, that is, eliminating the need for balancingcounterweights, particularly in the case of the heavier 35 mm motionpicture cameras and video cameras.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, the equipment for enabling amobile photographer to take high quality, ambulatory hand-heldphotographs with a strip film fed or video camera includes an expandedcamera which has the mass of the camera distributed at points remotefrom each other about a handle in a manner so that the handle is locatedat approximately the center of the moment of inertia of the system. Byemploying the expanded camera of the present invention increasesinherent stability of the system in a manner that permits high qualityresults when utilizing hand-held equipment. The spring loaded supportarms permit the expanded camera to essentially float freely in a mannerto isolate the camera from any movements of the cameraman. It will benoted that the equipment of the present invention functions to improvequality of results without adding significantly to the overall weight ofthe mobile equipment. The camera viewer is provided with a remote viewfinding device, such as a flexible fiber coherent optic bundle extendingbetween the reflex view finding system of the camera body and thecameraman's eye or a video monitor affixed to the camera. This liberatesthe cameraman from the necessity of placing his eye directly adjacent tothe camera view finding system in order to properly aim and focus thecamera. As herein employed, the word "handle" means a structure which isfunctioned by the cameraman to orient and move the point of control ofthe camera.

As hereinafter and hereinbefore employed, the term "camera" is definedas any motion picture device such as a strip film fed camera, a videocamera or other device whose stability is essential even when carried byan ambulatory operator. The apparatus of the present invention may alsobe employed to support other mobile pieces of equipment whereinstability is essential and wherein substantial isolation from theoperator may be desirable, for example, when operating certain types ofhand held military weapons, lasers, etc.

Camera supporting means are provided which are capable of being carriedby an ambulatory cameraman to support, to a great extent, the verticalweight of the camera so that the cameraman may use his hands almostentirely to manipulate the camera to the desired camera angle and tofunction the camera controls. Camera supporting means tend to isolateand float the camera in a manner substantially independently of themovement of the cameraman himself. In this manner, the cameraman may usehis hands solely to manipulate the camera to the desired camera angleand to make necessary adjustments to the camera such as focus, zoom andaperture. In practicing the present invention, the camera equipment issubdivided into three or more sub-assemblies which are remotely locatedfrom each other and which are constructed and arranged about a handle ina balanced arrangement. Preferably, the handle is located near or closeto the center of the moment of inertia of the mass of the camera. Thecamera handle is mounted upon a gimbal yoke which in turn is supportedby a pair of longitudinally juxtaposed, spring loaded interactingparallelogram, support arms. One end of the support arms is affixed tothe support harness in a pivotal connection and the harness is worn bythe cameraman in a manner to carry the camera weight without using hishands or arms. The other end of the support arms carries the gimbal yokein a pivotal manner to permit relatively free floating of the camera andaccessory equipment.

The reason for subdividing the camera into several parts and thenexpanding these parts or locating them remote from each other andarranged about the handle is to balance the system and to make thecamera far more resistant to the effects of rapid, jerky angularmovement which may be occasioned by movement of the cameraman or of thecamera. Inasmuch as a moment of inertia is proportional to both mass andthe distance between the center of the movement of inertia and the mass,the remote positioning of the camera and its component parts increasesthe moment of inertia and thereby renders the camera less prone to rapidmovement. The spring loaded support arms and the pivotal connectionspermit free floating of the camera and act to isolate the camera itselffrom the movements of the cameraman thereby preventing unwanted movementof the camera occasioned by the motion of the cameraman himself. Inhand-held photography, it is desirable to minimize the load borne by thecameraman. The expansion of the elements of a motion picture or a videocamera to distances remote from each other balances the weight,increases the moment of inertia of the system and decreases the tendencyto introduce unwanted motion at the image, all without substantiallyincreasing the weight of the camera equipment.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide animproved apparatus for hand held photography.

It is another object of the present invention to provide superiorequipment for taking photographs with a strip film fed camera by anambulatory cameraman.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an expanded,motion picture or video camera having a handle about which the cameracomponents are so arranged that the handle is located approximately atthe center of the moment of inertia of the system.

It is another object of the present invention to provide the strip filmfed camera equipped with a novel remote view finding device.

It is another object of the present invention to provide camera springloaded supporting means capable of attachment to a cameraman forsupporting a hand held camera.

It is another object of the present invention to provide novel equipmentfor use in hand held photography which includes a carrying strap worn bya camerman, a pair of longitudinally juxtaposed, spring loaded supportarms pivotally affixed at one end thereof to the carrying strap, agimbal yoke pivotally carried by the other end of the support arms, thegimbal yoke supporting a balanced expanded camera system thereon.

It is another object of the present invention to provide novel equipmentfor hand held photography that is rugged in construction, inexpensive inmanufacture and trouble free when in use.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention will be had byreferring to the following description and claims of a preferredembodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawingswherein like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views and in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the equipment of the presentinvention in use.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, side elevational view of the equipment.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, side elevational view of the spring loadedsupport arms and yoke.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the spring arms and yoke as seen from Line4--4 of FIG. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, cross sectional view taken along Line 5--5 ofFIG. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view taken along Line 6--6 of FIG. 2,looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 7 is a schematic elevational view of a modification of theinvention wherein video view finding equipment is employed.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line 8--8 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Although specific terms are used in the following description for thesake of clarity, these terms are intended to refer only to theparticular structure of my invention selected for illustration in thedrawings and are not intended to define or limit the scope of theinvention.

Referring now to the drawings, I show in FIGS. 1 and 2 equipment for usein hand held photography, generally designated 10 which comprises threeprimary elements, namely, an expanded camera 12, a remote view findingsystem 14 and the camera supporting means 16. It will be appreciatedthat the arrangement of parts set forth is illustrative only and showsone method of expanding the camera components. Other configurations maybe employed in accordance with the actual equipment utilized and stillfall within the scope and intent of this invention.

The expanded camera 12 is sub-divided into a plurality of sub-assemblieswhich are located remote from each other and which are constructed andarranged about a handle 18 so that the handle 18 is located at or closeto the moment of inertia of the mass of the expanded camera. As shown inFIG. 1, the handle preferably is shaped so as to be readily grasped byone hand 20 of the cameraman 22. The mass of the camera is illustratedas being expanded into three components, which are integrally andsecurely fastened together to form a balanced, operative camera system.It will be noted that a balance is achieved by expanding portions of thecamera 12 itself and not by employing counterweights of other balancingmaterials which would have the effect of adding weight withoutadditional function to the system. Although the camera equipment isshown as expanded into four basic components, it will be appreciatedthat it is not the number of components employed that is significant,but rather, the concept of expanding the camera elements so as toachieve balance without adding significant weight. Accordingly, use ofmore or fewer expanded components is considered well within the scopeand intent of this specification.

Still referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, it will be observed that the handle 18is affixed to a substantially two-dimensional frame 24 which may begenerally triangular or of other shape to mount the camera components inan expanded manner for balance purposes. While the frame 24 isillustrated in generally triangular configuration, it will be understoodthat the invention is not limited to any particular shape of frame. Itbeing understood that the purpose and function of the frame 24 is toexpand and space the various portions of the expanded camera 12 toprovide a system that is substantially balanced throughout with thehandle 18 positioned approximately at the center of the moment ofinertia of the expanded camera 12. For purposes of illustration, thecamera battery 26 is illustrated as secured in fixed position near onecorner 28 of the frame 24. Similarly, the camera motor 30 is affixednear another corner 32 of the frame 24 and the handle 18 is affixed to athird corner 34 of the frame 24 in a manner to provide a uniqueexpanded, and balanced arrangement for camera equipment. Suitable wires36 interconnect the battery 26 and the motor 30 in conventional manner.The wires 36 may be affixed to interior portions of the frame 24 or maybe run in tubing or otherwise protected in well known manner to preventdamage during all periods of storage and use.

The handle 18 terminates upwardly in a bearing mounted socket 38 whichis configured to receive the camera mounting strut 42 and is affixedthereto. The socket 38 is carried upon the gimbal ring 40 and receivestherein the camera mounting strut 42 in a connection to permit thecamera body 44 to be easily affixed to and removed from the socket 38.The socket bearing permits free rotary movement of the expanded camera12 relative to the handle 18. The camera body 44 is affixed to amounting platform 46 in a manner to cantilever forwardly of the mountingstrut 42 for purposes of balancing the expanded camera system 12. Infurther interest of balancing the system, the usual film magazine 48 isexpanded rearwardly and may be extended from the camera body 44 by themagazine throat 50. Optimumly, the geometry of the system is such thatthe expanded mounting of the camera battery 26, the camera motor 30, thecamera body 44 and the film magazine 48 are so positioned relative tothe frame 24 and are so balanced that the handle 18 is positioned atsubstantially the center of the moment of inertia of the expanded camerasystem 12. A drive shaft 52 interconnects the camera motor 30 with thecamera body 44 to function the camera in conventional manner.

There are, of course, an infinite number of arrangements which could beused for distributing the weight of the expanded camera system 12. Whenthe camera is to be used by a mobile cameraman for taking hand heldpictures, it is preferable that the elements of the camera be arrangedin rectangular fashion as illustrated, and it is further preferable thatall of the parts be positioned generally in the same vertical plane. Asshown in FIG. 2, the camera body 44 and the film magazine 48 mount abovethe handle 18 and the camera motor 30 and the camera battery 24 mountbelow the handle 18. The reason for this preference is that theorientation of the elements in this fashion give the expanded camera 12the highest moment of inertia in "roll", that is the tendency of thecamera to tip sideways around the horizontal axis passing through thecamera parallel to the direction from which light enters the camera lens54. In most cases, it is more difficult for an ambulatory cameraman tocontrol rolling than it is to control "panning", that is rotation abouta vertical axis passing through the camera and "tilting," that isrotation about a horizontal axis which is perpendicular to the directionin which light enters the camera lens.

Referring now to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, one design of camera supporting meansis illustrated in detail and comprises essentially a pair oflongitudinally juxtaposed support arms 56, 58 which are pivotallyinterconnected at the medial block 60. The support arms 56, 58 closelyapproximate the size of the cameraman's arm and are so arranged and sopivoted as to closely duplicate all movements of the cameraman's arm 62.The camera supporting means may be considered as an exo-skeleton sodesigned as to be able to closely follow the arm movement of thecameraman. The support arm 56 closest to the cameraman 22 extendsbetween the medial block 60 and the harness mounting block 64. A doublebifurcated upper link 68 pivotally interconnects between the medialblock 60 and the harness mounting block 64. Similarly, a doublebifurcated lower link 66 pivotally interconnects between the medialblock 60 and the harness mounting block 64 below the upper linkconnections. An upper medial pivot pin 72 and a lower medial pivot pin70 respectively pivotally interconnect one end of the upper link 68 andone end of the lower link 66 with the medial block 60. An upper pivotpin 75 interconnects the other end of the upper link 68 with the harnessmounting block 64 and a lower pivot pin 74 pivotally interconnects theother end of the lower link 66 with the harness mounting block 64. Inthis manner, the medial block 60 may be readily moved in an arc aroundthe harness mounting block 64. It will be noted that the upper link 68,the lower link 66, the harness mounting block 64 and the medial block 60form a parallelogram configuration which is fully pivoted about theupper pivot pins 72, 75 and the lower pivot pins 70, 74.

A pair of balancing springs 78, 80 of the coil spring type are laterallyin mounting connectors 82 and are preloaded to extend angularly betweenthe upper pivot pin 75 at the right end and the lower medial pivot pin70 at the left end.

It will be noted that the springs 78, 80 angularly cross theparallelogram formed by the upper and lower links 68, 66 and the endblocks 64, 60. The bias of the springs 78, 80 continuously act tocollapse the support arm 56 parallelogram. The action of the balancingsprings 78, 80 tends to raise the medial block 60 as the parallelogramis closed by drawing the upper and lower links 68, 66 together. The biasof the springs 78, 80 is essentially balanced by the weight of theexpanded camera 12 in a manner to permit the expanded camera 12 toessentially "float" irrespective of any movement of the cameraman 22.The harness mounting block 64 is equipped with an upwardly projectingthreaded mounting stud 84 which is received in the harness mountingbracket 86 bearing in a secure manner as hereinafter more fully setforth. The medial block 60 does not pivot as the arms 56, 58 arepivoted, but rather, retains its angular orientation in a radial arc asthe parallelogram are opened and closed.

The forward support 58 includes a double bifurcated, upper link 90 and adouble bifurcated lower link 88 which is arranged parallel to and belowthe upper link 90. The upper link extends forwardly from the medialblock 60 and pivotally connects to the forward block 92. The upper link90 is respectively pivotally connected to the medial and forward blocks60, 92 at the pivot pins 98, 100. The lower link 88 extends between themedial block 60 and the forward block 92 and is pivotally interconnectedtherewith at the respective pivot pins 94. 96. The upper and lower links90, 88, the medial block 60 and the forward block 92 form aparallelogram configuration, said parallelogram being pivotally arrangedabout the respective pivot pins 96, 100 at the front and 94, 98 at therear. A pair of balancing springs 102, 104 extend between the medialblock 60 and the forward block 92 for further load balancing purposes.The springs 102, 104 angularly cross the parallogram configuration andthe spring bias tends to collapse the parallogram. The springs terminateendwardly in rearward and forward mounting connectors 106 and 106'. Therearward mounting connector 106 pivotally connects to the upper medialblock pivot pin 98 and forwardly connects to the forward block 92 at thepivot pin 108, which pivot pin is positioned intermediate the upper andlower pivot pins 96, 100. The springs 102, 104 are preloaded andfunction to tend to close the forward support arm 58 parallogram bypulling the upper and lower links 90, 88 together. This action tends tocounteract the forces imposed on the forward block 92 by the weight ofthe expanded camera 12 which would have the effect of urging the block92 downwardly. An intermediate spring 110 extends in a vertical planethat is generally parallel to and intermediate the balancing springs102, 104 and has its forward and rearward ends 112, 114 respectivelyinterconnected between the forward pin 116 and a rearward pin 118. Thepins 116, 118 respectively laterally interconnect rear bifurcated legsof the upper link 90 and the leg of the forward bifurcated end of thelower link 88. In practice, it is desirable to fabricate the forwardsupport arm springs 102, 104 of greater strength than the rear supportarm springs 78, 80. In this manner, the forward springs 102, 104 act tostiffen the rear links 66, 68 by imposing increased forces on the rearsprings 78, 80.

The forward block 92 forwardly carries a transversely offset gimbal ring40 which is laterally pivotally connected to the attaching yoke 120 bythe right and left yoke pivot pins 122, 124. The gimbal ring 40 connectsto the socket bearing 38 at the longitudinally offset gimbal pivot pins126, 128 to thereby impart full pivotal motion in two directions to thesocket bearing 38. The socket bearing 38 permits full rotary movement ofthe mounting strut 42 thereby imparting great freedom to the cameramounting arrangement. The yoke 120 is integrally affixed to the forwardend of a link 130 in a laterally offset position for clearance purposesand the ink 130 in turn is carried upon the forward block 92 in astationary connection. In this manner, the weight of the expanded camera12 when applied at the socket bearing 38 tends to pull the forward block92 in a downward direction. Such downward movement of the forward block92 would tend to open the parallelogram including the links 88, 90,which forces would be counterbalanced by the action of the springs 102,104, 110. Thus, when the expanded camera 12 is seated within the socketbearing 38, both the forward block 92 and the medial block 60 have atendency to rotate in a direction to close the forward support armparallelogram and to force the forward block 92 downwardly. Ashereinbefore set forth, the respective springs 102, 104, 110 are allpreloaded and positioned to tend to collapse the forward support armparallogram. By judiciously choosing and preloading the balancingsprings to counterbalance the weight of the expanded camera 12, thecamera weight can be substantially counterbalanced in a verticaldirection without the need of additional weights such as in the form ofconventional counterweights. The construction imposes no lateralresistance to movement. The spring and support arm arrangement of thepresent invention essentially allows the expanded camera 12 to float inspace in any of a wide range of positions wherever aimed by thecameraman. Any movement of the cameraman 22 himself will be compensatedby the support arms 56, 58 so that the camera 12 is substantiallyisolated from activity such as walking or running on the part of thecameraman. The inertia of the camera system is much greater than thelinks preference for any given position and therefore, interaction withthe cameraman's hand provides high quality results.

Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, I show a brace or carrying strip 132which is so sized and constructed as to rest upon the shoulder of thecameraman for support of all of the equipment 10. A suitable belt 134 isprovided to permit the brace to be comfortably worn by the cameraman 22and to be easily adjusted to the cameraman's body. The harness mountingbracket 86 is suitably affixed to the carrying strap 132 through aconnecting plate and is in horizontal, pivotal relation thereto aboutthe vertical pivot pin 136. A spring 138 is positioned about the pivotpin 136 and biases between the connecting plate and the harness mountingbracket 86 in a manner to continuously urge the bracket 86 in aclockwise direction (when looking from above) about the vertical pivotpin 136. The bracket 86 is endwardly provided with a vertical opening140 of size to receive the mounting stud 84 of the support arm 56therein. The stud 84 may be secured to the bracket 86 in well knownmanner such as by threadedly engaging a nut (not shown) on the threadedportion 142. In this manner, it will be noted that the support arms 56,58 are provided with horizontal pivotal movement about the harnessmounting bracket 86 at the engagement of the mounting stud 84 within thebracket opening 140. Further, the mounting bracket 86 itself has pivotalhorizontal movement relative to the brace 132 about the spring loadedpivot pin 136. In this manner, any horizontal movement at the shoulderof the cameraman 22 can be closely approximated and duplicated by thesupport arms 56, 58 at the pivotal connections about the pivot pin 136and the mounting stud 84. Additionally, the arms 56, 58 are verticallymovable relative to the brace 132 about the respective pivot pins 74,75, 70, 72, 94, 98,96 and 100. The weight of the expanded camera 12 iscarried only by the tendency of the support arms to rise as the springs78, 80, 102, 104, 110 continuously bias the parallelogram of the supportarms 56, 58 to a collapsed position. Thus, the cameraman 22 has freemobility relative to the expanded camera 12 in that all movementsthrough his shoulder and arms are closely duplicated and compensated forin the bracket 86 and in the support arms 56, 58. The combination of theharness mounting bracket 86, the spring loaded support arms 56, 58 andthe offset gimbal mounting of the socket bearing 38 all combine toassure that the angular orientation of the expanded camera 12 is notdependent upon or altered by changes in the position of the cameraman.Thus, should a cameraman 22 be running, walking, alternately stoopingand standing, or the like, the effect of such movement on theorientation of the expanded camera 12 will be minimized. The function ofthe carrying brace 132 and the belt 134 is to sustain at least part, anddesirably most or all of the vertical load of the camera 12, therebyleaving the cameraman free to manipulate the camera with hisoutstretched hands.

As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the expanded camera 12 is provided with aremote view finding system generally designated 14. The remote viewfinding device enables a moving or stationary cameraman to take shotsfrom a wide variety of angles and height which would not be possible ifthe cameraman had to keep his eye adjacent to the camera view finder.Thus, the equipment of the invention may be used to photograph eventstranspiring to the side or to the rear of the cameraman while thecameraman 22 is standing still, running, walking, riding in a vehicle,facing in another direction, or the like. In the embodiment illustrated,the remote view finding system 14 includes generally a flexible fiberoptic bundle 44 which is flexible throughout its length from itsconnection to the camera body viewer 146 to the eye piece 148. The fiberoptic bundle 144 is characterized by its ability to transmit lightthroughout the length of the bundle, regardless of its configuration.The fiber optic bundle 144 consists of a large number of closelyassociated, small diameter, light transmitting fibers which are securedtogether into a bundle in the manner well known to those skilled in theart of fiber optics. The fiber optic bundle 144 has a cross sectionequal to the size of a frame of the film being fed through the camerabody 44. For example, with reference to FIG. 2, if the camera body 12 isemployed for use with 16 mm motion picture film, the cross sectionalsize of the fiber optic bundle 144 will be the same as a frame of the 16mm film. In the case of 35 mm cameras, I prefer to employ a 35 mm to 16mm reduction bundle near the film gate to thereby permit use of the same16 mm fiber optic bundle 144. One end of the fiber optic bundle 144 issecured to the camera body 44 at the camera body viewer 146 by means ofsuitable, conventional means, such as threaded connectors. The camerabody 44 includes a mirror shutter (not shown) for deflecting the imagethat impinges on the lens of the camera into the camera end of the fiberoptic bundle 144. Preferably, the camera end of the fiber optic bundle144 is placed perpendicular to and immediately adjacent the film gate inthe position normally occupied by the ground glass portion of the usualcamera view finder.

The fiber optic bundle 144 is sufficiently long to traverse acomfortable distance between the camera body 44 and the eye of thecameraman 22 who is manipulating the expanded camera 12. A distance ofsix feet is normally sufficient for this purpose. The end 150 of thefiber optic bundle connects into a prism 154 which communicates with theeye piece 148 in a manner to permit the image carried by the fiber opticbundle 144 to be readily viewed by the cameraman through the eye piece148. The head brace may be fabricated of webbing or other suitablematerial to permit easy adjustment as to head size. The prism 154 andthe eye piece 148 are supported by the head brace 152 in conventionalmanner to permit the eye piece to be carried over the eye of thecameraman for viewing purposes.

The remote view finding device preferably includes means for indicatingthe angular orientation of the camera lens 54 through the remote viewfinding device 14. As seen in FIGS. 6 and 3, the preferred means forindicating the angular orientation of the camera lens about the rollaxis comprises a level indicating device 162, such as a floating bubbleof the type generally used in a carpenter's level illuminated by a lightemitting diode or other means and sealed to prevent light impingementupon the film, positioned at the camera body end 158 of the fiber opticbundle 144, so as to appear at the top of the image seen by thecameraman at the remote end 150 of the fiber optic bundle 144. The levelindicating means preferably is graduated to show the angular deviationaround the roll axis.

The combined effect of the expanded camera 12, the remote finding device14 and the camera supporting means 16 is to provide equipment by whichan ambulatory cameraman 22 may take motion pictures, videotapes and thelike while running, skiiing, riding in vehicles, etc., which are free ofsharp, jerky movements and functionally indistinguishable from the"dolly shots." The equipment of the present invention eliminates thenecessity of setting a mobile camera on a dolly and then laying tracksor constructing a platform upon which the dolly may be moved. Theexpanded camera 12 has a high moment of inertia which tends to resistrapid angular movement when subjected to sudden shocks. The camerasupporting means relieve the cameraman of the burden of supporting thecamera's weight with his hands so that his hands are free to manipulatethe camera and its controls. The camera supporting means, by relievingthe vertical load on the cameraman'hands also enables the cameraman'shands to absorb shocks more effectively. The remote view finder deviceenables the cameraman to take shots from a wide variety of angles whichwould not be possible if the camerman had to keep his eye immediatelyadjacent to the camera view finder 146. Thus, the equipment of theinvention may be used to photograph events transpiring to the side of oreven to the rear of the cameraman, while the cameraman is standingstill, running, walking, skiing, riding in a vehicle, or the like.

Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 8, I show camera end 158 of thefiber opticbundle 144 as it enters the camera viewer 146. The bundle 144 terminatesinteriorly at the point occupied normally by the ground glass 160 of thecamera optic system. In the embodiment illustrated, the camera issuitable for 35 mm film and the fiber optic bundle is fabricated of 16mm diameter, the maximum practical size. An intermediate reductionbundle can be utilized consisting of tapered fibers is employed toreduce the image of a 35 mm camera to 16 mm. In this manner, the smallerend of the tapered bundle can then directly contact the end 158 of the16 mm film optic bundle 144, either for use with 16 mm or 35 mm cameras.A level indicating device 162 of the type having a movable bubble 164positioned along one horizontal side of the camera optic system in aposition wherein it can be simultaneously viewed through the eye piece148 and through the fiber optic bundle 144, together with the image.Thus, the angular orientation of the camera body 44 can be easilymonitored by the cameraman 22 when he uses the equipment 10 during thepicture taking process.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, the remote view finding apparatus of thepresent invention is equally applicable to video equipment wherein aconventional monitor 166 can be remotely mounted from the camera body 44by employing a rigid strut 164. A conventional electronic vidicon tubefeeds the camera image to the monitor 166 in a well known manner throughthe interconnecting wires 170.

Although I have described the present invention with reference to theparticular embodiments of the invention herein set forth, it isunderstood that the present disclosure has been made only by way ofexample and that numerous changes in the details of construction may beresorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention. Thus, the scope of the invention should not be limited to theforegoing specification, but rather only by the scope of the claimsappended hereto.

I claim:
 1. A support system adapted to support a piece of equipment togive it improved stability against undesirable motion of the body towhich the support system is connected, when said body is in motion,which system comprisessupport means for the piece of equipment whichmeans is adapted to suport at least part of the weight of the piece ofequipment and which means is adapted to be connected to the body, saidsupport means substantially isolating the piece of equipment at adistance from the body, body connecting means for connecting the supportmeans to the body and allowing for rotational movement of the supportmeans virtually unrestricted by friction about a horizontal and avertical axis relative the body when the body is in motion, whereby thepiece of equipment has improved stability against undesirable motions ofthe body when in motion and equipment connecting means for connectingthe support means with the piece of equipment and allowing rotationalmovement virtually unrestricted by friction about three axes of thepiece of equipment relative to the support means, namely a firsthorizontal axis, a second horizontal axis angularly offset from thefirst and a vertical axis, said suport means comprising tension meanswhich means are adapted to counteract the force of gravity against thepiece of equipment, thus counterbalancing the pull downward of theweight of the piece of equipment.
 2. The support system of claim 1wherein the carring means is a brace.
 3. The support system of claim 2wherein the brace is adapted to be connected to the supporting means bythe intermediary of a connecting means.
 4. The support system of claim 1wherein the first supporting arm includes a tension means.
 5. Thesupport system of claim 1 wherein the second supporting arm includes atension means.
 6. The support system of claim 1 wherein the supportmeans comprise means which counteract the force of gravity gainst thepiece of equipment, thus counterbalancing the pull downward of theweight of the piece of equipment.
 7. The support system of claim 1wherein the support means comprises a first and second supporting arm.8. The support system of claim 7 wherein the first and second supportingarms are interconnected.
 9. The support system of claim 8 wherein thesupporting arms comprise an upper and lower link, which form the legs ofa parallelogram arrangement.
 10. The support system of claim 7 whereinthe first supporting arm comprises a spring means, said spring meanscontinuously biasing the end of the first arm that is remote from thebody upwardly relative to the body, the bias of the spring means beingsubstantially balanced by the weight of the piece of equipment to causethe piece of equipment to free float irrespective the movement of thebody.
 11. The support system of claim 7 wherein the second supportingarm comprises a spring means, said spring means continuously biasing theend of the second arm which is remote from the body upwardly relative tothe body, the bias counteracting the weight of the piece of equipment.12. The support system of claim 7 wherein the first and secondsupporting arm comprise a first and second spring means which biases thefirst and second arm respectively, relative to the body, whereby theweight of the piece of equipment is counteracted by the bias of thespring means.
 13. The support system of claim 12 wherein the secondspring means are of greater strength than the first spring means,thereby imposing increased forces on the first spring means.
 14. Thesupport system of claim 12 wherein the first and second spring means areadapted to pivot the first and second arms about any of their respectivepivots in the same direction relative to the body.
 15. The supportsystem of claim 12 wherein at least one of the springs attaches to asupport arm, which has an upper and lower link, in a location offsetfrom both the upper link and the lower link.
 16. The support system ofclaim 1 wherein the support means comprises spring means.
 17. Thesupport system of claim 7 wherein the first and second arm are connectedat a medial block.
 18. The support system of claim 1 wherein thevirtually unrestricted frictional movement of the means connecting thesupport means to the body are allowed by a plurality of substantiallyfrictionless pivots, which pivots do not contribute to counteract theweight of the piece of equipment.
 19. The support system of claim 1wherein the supports means comprise a plurality of substantiallyfrictionless pivots which allow virtually unrestricted frictionalmovement of the support mean.
 20. The support means of claim 1 whereinthe tension means are resilient means.
 21. The support system of claim 1wherein the support means is adapted to be positioned forward relativeto the body.
 22. The support system of claim 1 which comprises guidingmeans having a position from which the piece of equipment can be guidedto the selected position in space.
 23. The support system of claim 1which comprises handle means which is adapted to orient and move thepiece of equipment.
 24. The support system of claim 22 wherein the meanscomprise handle means adapted to orient and move the piece of equipment.25. The support system of claim 22 wherein the guiding means ispositioned spacially below the piece of equipment.
 26. The supportsystem of claim 24 wherein the handle means is positioned in asubstantially same vertical place as the piece of equipment.
 27. Thesupport system of claim 1 which is adapted to be guided into the desiredposition in space with either one of the cameraman's hands.
 28. Thesupport means of claim 1 wherein the body connecting means comprisesmeans for virtually unrestricted pivotable frictional movement about ahorizontal axis.
 29. The support means of claim 1 wherein the bodyconnecting means comprises means for virtually unrestricted pivotablefrictional movement about a vertical axis.
 30. The support means ofclaim 1 which comprises also carrying means adapted to be positioned onthe body when in motion.
 31. The support means of claim 1 wherein theconnecting means comprise a plate for pivotal rotation in a horizontalplane about a vertical pivot pin.
 32. The support means of claim 31wherein a plate is adapted to be connected to carrying means adapted tobe positioned on the body.
 33. The support system of claim 1 wherein themeans for connecting the support means with the piece of equipmentcomprise means for for virtually unrestricted frictional movement aboutthe first horizontal axis.
 34. The support system of claim 1 wherein themeans for connecting the support means with the piece of equipmentcomprise means for for virtually unrestricted frictionlal movement aboutthe second horizontal axis.
 35. The support system of claim 1 whereinthe means for connecting the support means with the piece of equipmentcomprise means for for virtually unrestricted frictional movement abouta vertical axis.
 36. The support system of claim 1 wherein theconnecting means comprises a yoke which permits movement of the piece ofequipment about the first horizontal axis.
 37. The support system ofclaim 1 wherein the connecting means is a gimbal.
 38. The support systemof claim 7 wherein the support means comprises a forward and a arearward portion, which forward and rearward portions are inlongitudinal, justaposed relationship.
 39. A support system adapted tosupport a piece of equipment to give it improved stability againstundesirable motion of the body to which the equipment is connected whensaid body is in motion, which system comprisessupport means for thepiece of equipment, which means is adapted to terminate at least part ofthe weight of the piece of equipment and which means is adapted to beconnected to the body, said support means substantially isolating thepiece of equipment at a distance from the body, and said support meansallowing the piece of equipment to be guided to a position in space in arange of selected positions, and body connecting means for connectingthe support means to the body and allowing for rotational movement ofthe support means virtually unrestricted by friction about a horizontaland a vertical axis relative the body when the body is in motion,whereby the piece of equipment has improved stability againstundesirable motions of the body when in motion, and equipment connectingmeans for connecting the support means with the piece of equipment andallowing rotational movement about three axes of the piece of equipmentrelative to the support means virtually unrestricted by friction, namelya first horizontal axis, a second horizontal axis angularly offset froma first and a vertical axis, and linking means interconnecting the bodyconnecting means and the equipment connecting means.
 40. The supportsystem of claim 39 wherein the linking means comprises tension means.41. The support system of claim 40 wherein the linking means comprisesseveral tension means.
 42. The support system of claim 39 whichcomprises several linking means.
 43. The support system of claim 42wherein several linking means are connected by a tension means.
 44. Thesupport system of claim 43 wherein several linking means are connectedby several tension means.
 45. The support system of claim 42 wherein thelinking means are pivotably connected.
 46. The support means of claim 39wherein the system comprises a guiding means for guiding the piece ofequipment to a position in space.
 47. The support system of claim 39wherein the linking means are connected by a plurality of substantiallyfrictionless pivots which allow for virtually unrestricted frictionalmovement, whereby the pivots do not contribute to counteract the weightof the piece of equipment.
 48. A support system adapted to support andstabilize a piece of equipment to give it improved stability againstundesirable motion of the body to which the support system is connectedwhen said body is in motion, which system comprisessupport means for thepiece of equipment which means is adapted to support at least part ofthe weight of the piece of equipment and of isolating the piece ofequipment at a distance from the body substantially independently of itsmotion, said support means comprising body connecting means forconnecting the support means to the body and allowing for rotationalmovement virtually unrestricted by friction of the support means about ahorizontal axis and a vertical axis relative the body when the body isin motion, and equipment connecting means for connecting the supportmeans with the piece of equipment and allowing movement virtuallyunrestricted by friction about the three axes of the piece of equipmentrelative to the support means, namely a first horizontal axis, a secondhorizontal axis angularly offset from a first and a vertical axis, andlinking means interconnecting the body connecting means and theequipment connecting means and force means, which means is counteractingthe force of gravity on the piece of equipment, thus having a counterpulling effect on the pull downward of the weight of the piece ofequipment.
 49. The support means of claim 48 which comprises restingmeans for resting the support means on the body when in motion, saidresting means being connected to the body connecting means.
 50. Thesupport means of claim 48 wherein the force means is compressible andextensible.